Universal Truths And Cycles
by Guided by Voices
  • Record Label: Matador
  • Release Date: Jun 18, 2002
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4

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  1. Oscar-1823
    Apr 6, 2018
    6
    A seemingly uninspiring album from Guided by Voices. With most tracks being decent and a few good this album lacks great tracks to give it a strong impression. However, this album has a few stand out tracks such as Everywhere with Helicopter, Pretty Bombs, Cheyenne and Zap. Unlike some other releases, this album feels over produced with the balance of production being improved in the nextA seemingly uninspiring album from Guided by Voices. With most tracks being decent and a few good this album lacks great tracks to give it a strong impression. However, this album has a few stand out tracks such as Everywhere with Helicopter, Pretty Bombs, Cheyenne and Zap. Unlike some other releases, this album feels over produced with the balance of production being improved in the next release and great album, Earthquake Glue.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Splendid
    80
    No more fancy studios, no more high priced producers; this is truly GBV as nature intended -- reckless, hook-laden and drunk as hell.
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  2. AllMusic
    50
    Universal Truths and Cycles shows the band has lost touch with the most important thing outside producers brought to their TVT albums -- someone to help pick, choose, and sequence Robert Pollard's over-abundance of songs.
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  3. Blender
    60
    The best songs have concise melodies and a likeable punch. The worst just sound like sketches, riffs a more traditionally ambitious group would have discarded. [#8, p.116]
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